Picker International, Inc.

Touchsensor Technologies, LLC

Robert B Campbell

David W Caldwell

Donald Charles Mueller

Mark Robert Mathews

Bahar N Wadia

Thomas M Schreiber

Anthony V Gioiosa

Rick L Oppor

Daniel Eavenson

Gerald James Carlson

Dan Eavenson

A touch switch apparatus emulating a mechanical switch includes a field effect sensor and an electric field stimulator mechanically associated with the field effect sensor. A field generation signal applied to the field effect sensor causes an electric field to be generated thereabout. The electric field stimulator can be moved between first and second positions with respect to the field effect sensor. When moved into proximity with the field effect sensor, the electric field stimulator disturbs the electric field. A detection circuit coupled to the field effect sensor detects and responds to the disturbance to the electric field.

Touch switches and practical applications therefor

A touch switch apparatus for detecting the presence of an object such as a human appendage, the apparatus having a touch pad, an electric field generated about the touch pad and also having a preferably integrated and local control circuit connected to the touch pad and to a controlled device. Practical applications for touch switch apparatus, including use of touch switch apparatus in connection with other structure to emulate mechanical switches.

A CT scanner includes a stationary gantry (,) defining an examination region (,) and a rotating gantry (,) which rotates about the examination region. At least two x-ray tubes (,), each capable of producing a beam of radiation directed through the examination region, are mounted to the rotating gantry. The x-ray tubes are switchably connected to an electrical power supply (,). X-rays are detected by an arc of x-ray detectors (,) which generate signals indicative of the radiation received. These signals are processed by a reconstruction processor (,) into an image representation. A thermal calculator (,) estimates when an anode in one of the x-ray tubes (,) reaches a selected temperature. The thermal calculator (,) controls a switch (,) which is electrically connected between the x-ray tubes and the power supply. The switch selectively switches power from the power supply alternately to the x-ray tubes. Each time the thermal calculator estimates that the anode of one of the x-ray tubes has reached selected temperature, that tube is switched off and the other tube is switched on.

Method and apparatus to increase the operational time of a tomographic scanner

An x-ray tube (10) includes an anode (14) connected to a mechanical drive (36). The mechanical drive oscillates the anode in a gyrating motion relative to a body of the x-ray tube. The mechanical drive is operatively connected to the anode via a bellows assembly (16) and is capable of rocking the anode in two axes simultaneously. The preferred anode is shaped in a shperical section (28) providing a fixed focal distance between the anode and a cathode (20) regardless of relative position of the anode within the body. An electron shield (40) is disposed between the cathode and the anode and has an opening along a preferred path for electron travel. Improved heat exchange is provided by applying a heat transfer agent to an obverse side of the anode which is preferably located outside of a vacuum envelope (18) defined by the x-ray tube body, the anode, and the bellows.

Gyrating anode x-ray tube

An explosive forming process provides an anode (10) suitable for use in a high energy x-ray tube. The process includes applying a shaped charge (54, 80, 90, 92) to a refractory material which has been formed in the general shape of the anode. The configuration of the charge is calculated to provide a target area (16) on the anode of uniform, high density which does not tend to outgas in the high vacuum conditions of the x-ray tube. The explosive process is capable of forming anodes with much larger diameters than is possible with conventional forging techniques.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Robert B Campbell